Abstract
The article explores contemporary and future options for better personal and societal ageing. The phenomena of significantly more present and projected elders, especially the upcoming diverse American baby boomers, have generated peaked interest in ageing-related issues from academic, practicing professional, business, governmental, and adult constituencies. Although much of ageing-related theory, research, and practice remains discipline-specific, an integration of physical, psychological, and social ageing domains is suggested as a paradigm for personal and societal intervention. The integrative physical, psychological, and social successful ageing paradigm is used to illustrate advantages for the conceptual perspectives of multidimensional, multidirectional adult lifestyles, applied and interdisciplinary research agendas, and intervention strategies for productive ageing. Findings from a number of research programs emphasizing the integrative successful ageing approach are shared. Personal and societal priorities for productive ageing are reviewed. Successful ageing intervention strategies are presented in the context of personal decisions and lifestyles related to societal opportunities and restrictions. Preventive, rather than remedial intervention, is emphasized.
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Douglas Friedrich’s academic training is in developmental methodology, behavior genetics, and gerontology. His present research deals with successful ageing, including third wave longitudinal study of young-, middle-, and old-old adults with colleague Neil Davis. Primary study concerns are knowledge of ageing, psychological well-being, and activities associated with successful ageing.
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Friedrich, D. Personal and societal intervention strategies for successful ageing. Ageing Int. 28, 3–36 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-003-1014-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-003-1014-8